Both Premier Wynne and her Scarborough Guildwood star-in-the-making Mitzie Hunter were expressing a lot of regret as they spoke on the byelection outcomes Thursday. Wynne acknowledged that people are right to be angry about the gas plant scandal and the punishing cost of the Liberal political expediency.  People were angry and they had a right to be, she suggested. “I entirely get that,” she declared.  The Premier called the outcomes a “verdict on the recent past”.  She said  “I have heard it and I accept it. The next election will be about the future. That’s what we’re working toward.”  Wynne condemned the political management of the controversial cancellation of two gas plants as “heavy handed” and “secretive.” “Correcting the mistake that was made in the first place cost more money than it should have, and as a member of the government that made those decisions, I could not be more sorry about that, and I mean that,” she said. “I absolutely mean that.”  Ms. Hunter, who held the east Toronto riding for the Liberals apparently on the strength of her personality, said she understood that the loss of three of the five seats represented a message from voters that they were not happy with the performance of the government. “They deserve better,” she said. 

It’s a challenge every time one of these big fellows comes crashing down and especially so when it happens in a backyard with no access to the street, not even a driveway. As reported by our sister blog Yonge and Roxborough News this tree came down a few days ago in a storm and in order to get it out, a giant crane had to lift it perilously over the rooftops. This happened at 52 Macpherson Ave an area of the city that was built in that twilight zone of history where there were no lanes between the fine homes. Left, great tree lays across the garden; centre, a flight into the unknown and right, close to terra firma and a meeting with the tree man’s buzz saw. 

Poillievre

The newly-appointed Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poillievre is taking on the big jobs first as he laid out the Conservative government’s plan for the future of the Senate. In a rather bold approach, Poillievre says the federal authority does not need the permission of the provinces to make the red chamber more democratic and to place new limits on terms. He also argues that the Senate can be abolished with the consent of seven provinces containing at least 50 percent of the population. These arguments will be heard and decided up on the Supreme Court of Canada. Fixing the Senate

For most of us its just a fact of life in Leaside (and adjoining areas). That’s the sale and demolition of 70 and 80-year-old bungalows to be replaced with more expensive two-storey homes. Contrary to some criticism, the replacement homes are not typically outrageously large. Most of them seem to fit the bill for modern family life. If they have a sameness, the trade in architectural aesthetic from those dear old bungalows seems a fair one. They are expensive, but the history of real estate is the struggle required to scratch together a down payment. Many astute homeowners, even those who must live through construction noise and dirt next door, will understand that the value of their homes is being increased. Most of us choose to think of this as simple economics rather than the worship of Mammon. In any case, it is happening again at 146 (left) and 151 Sutherland Drive south of Millwood Rd. It will be a busy Fall along this stretch of the street.